🌺 💮 🌸 Living with Jesus' JOY 🌸 💮 🌺

Did we mention there are prizes distributed randomly to participants? This week's verse of joy is Galatians 5:22 “the fruit of the spirit is...JOY”

During worship this Sunday, we'll be celebrating Communion. If you participate on the livestream, we encourage you to make preparation so that you have bread and juice available. If it would be helpful to you, we're happy to provide you with a delivery of communion pods. Please let us know of your need by contacting Kristi.

Over the last week we experienced some limiting technology issues. The church email was not functional for a number of days. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Currently we are back up and operational, but if you are proficient in MX records we would love to talk about how you can support the church.

Looking ahead to the summer, Crosstown is making a change to our Sunday worship time. Beginning Sunday, May 29 our worship gatherings will begin at 10:00 AM. Our rationale for this update is fourfold.

#1, We hope to increase in-person attendance.

#2, We’re seeking to increase community both pre and post worship.

#3, We want to issue a fresh invitation to be seated in the Sanctuary for the start of worship at 10:00.

#4, This schedule will allow us to conclude worship at roughly the same time as Bethel Ethiopian.

Our plan is that this schedule will continue through “Retreat Weekend” on Sunday, September 18.

As programs pause for the summer Kristi will also be making a change. The newsletter schedule will be decreasing in frequency. Without a communications team there are a number of items that need maintenance in our digital platforms (Website, App, Facebook, Instagram, eNewsletter, Blog, Google business, YouTube, Spotify, Zenfolio). Hopefully removing production time for the newsletter will allow for that work to be completed. If you are interested in helping with these tasks please contact Kristi.

We are delighted to announce Aaron Berfeldt as our candidate to serve as Crosstown's Director of Worship Arts. Following 8+ months as our interim director and with the unanimous support of the Worship Search team, we thank the Lord Jesus for Aaron's willingness to serve. For reasons of accommodations to Aaron's schedule as will as financial realities, we are reducing the hours per week for this position from 20 to 10 as well as reducing staff meeting attendance from weekly to monthly.

A Congregational Meeting to affirm Aaron Berfeldt as Director of Worship Arts has been scheduled for Sunday, June 26th, in person only. Please direct questions to Mark Ogawa, Elder to Worship, or Dennis Olson, Worship Deacon.

May Fun Fest - May 21 @ 10:00

It's time to invite someone to share in the fun. You can invite on Facebook or use a printed English or Spanish flier from church.

We are still looking for volunteers to help with May Fun Fest. We promise it will be fun! Just look at the pictures of last year's smiling faces.

Sabbatical B May 16-June 26

As I look ahead to my upcoming Sabbatical, I want to pass along an overview of my plans. I’ve chosen a singular verse to guide my focus. Psalm 27:8 declares, My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Marna and I are planning to begin and end our journey with visits to St. John’s Abbey Guesthouse in Collegeville, MN. We’ll be treated to the hospitality of the Benedictine community that resides there. In addition to solitude and excellent meals, we’ll enjoy participating in the daily prayer life of the monks. As one catalyst for reflection, I’ll spend time with Pete Grieg’s work, “how to hear God: a simple guide for normal people.” If you have interest, I invite you to join me in pondering this resource! Pete is one of the leaders of the Lectio 365 devotional App I’ve frequently highlighted. For the 2nd week (May 21-28), we’re traveling to Sedona, AZ for a week of amazing hiking in that picturesque area. Neither of us has ever been there and we’ve heard great things about the God-inspired beauty of the area. Following some time back in Minneapolis, we’ll travel to Great River Bluffs State Park, MN for a week of camping. Again, we’ll pursue God’s presence in creation. This will be followed by time with our “boys” (grandsons) and soon it will be Monday, June 27 and I’ll be back @ Crosstown. I want to thank the congregation for this gift of sacred time! I invite your prayer support as we seek a fresh encounter with our good and great Lord Jesus Christ!!

Epiphany Covenant recently celebrated their 5-year anniversary naming Crosstown as a partner church. This is one of the churches Crosstown financially supported through the Invest Task Force.

Passion for Christ Compassion for People